Wilder Ranch

Location

Wilder Ranch State Park is located at the NW edge of Santa Cruz, just South of Davenport, on either side of Highway 1. The entrance and parking to the park are at 1401 Old Coast Road (Highway 1) in Santa Cruz, on the West side of Highway 1, about a mile North of the Western Drive stoplight.

If you would like to park for free, you can access the park from Shaffer Road near the intersection with Highway 1 (park along Shaffer Road), then head NW along the paved two-lane trail for Wilder Ranch.

If you would like to park for free closer to the main entrance, there is limited parking along the Western side of Highway 1, just South of the entrance. Walk over the steep, tall burm to get to Wilder Ranch's Farm Area (not recommended for strollers).

Attractions:

This park has many "untouched" wild areas, including grassy bluffs, wildflower meadows, eucalyptus groves, and riparian / coast woods.
The park is a historic site, with Wilder Ranch house and corral, as well as an interpretive center with exhibits, farm animals, and a store.
There is a lovely, paved two-lane trail connecting Shaffer Road to the house and corral at Wilder Ranch.
Trails go for miles and miles, and some good hill workouts can be had if you venture to the Eastern part of the park.
The park's trails provide a portion of the Santa Cruz Half Marathon - you can connect any trail to The Natural Bridges area of Santa Cruz by following the paved route to Shaffer Road and then walking along the road Southwest.
Take in the more rugged side of the beach here, and have a picnic or snack overlooking the blue ocean, on a grassy bluff.
Wildflowers are plentiful in Spring, and mustard blooms bright in the farm fields then, as well.
Wildlife include snakes, lizards, birds, ladybugs, butterflies, squirrels, seals, and deer.
Domestic animals include chickens, horses, sheep, goats, and cats.
Bicycles allowed!

Limitations:

Weather can change rapidly along the coast - dress in layers!
The trails along the coast (West side of Highway 1) tend to be VERY windy.
No dogs allowed.
Beware of poison oak and ticks in this area.

Season:

Open daily, 8 am to sunset. The interpretive center and store are open Thursday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, most months, although they open some extra hours from April to mid-June.

Fees:

$6 parking fee. There is free parking along Highway 1, but this requires a bit of a walk into the park along the Highway, which can get busy and dangerous. There is free parking along Shaffer Road, where there is an awesome paved trailhead for the park (near the corner of Shaffer Rd and Hwy 1).

Maps & More Information:

For information on the interpretive center's hours, call (831) 426-0505.
Maps are posted at the parking lot's sign. There are maps available there, to take with you, as well. Also find maps at the interpretive center.
Eric Goetze's amazing website, Virtual Parks, has maps and links to panoramic views (click on diamonds on maps and scroll to see 360 degrees)at http://www.virtualparks.org/parks/wilder-qtvr-map.html
California State Park Website for Wilder Ranch: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=549
Friends of Wilder Ranch Website: http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/parks/wilder/

Handicapped Access:

The trails in the park range from awesome two-lane pavement to dirt to slick shale (in one small area). Access to the farm from Shaffer Road or the main parking area is all paved, and besides a steep descent from the main parking area, seems quite suitable for handicapped access. Other trails are not well maintained enough to guarantee handicapped access; call Wilder Ranch to ask for trail advice before you visit.

Recommended routes:

Wilder Ranch Farm from Shaffer Road
This a fantastic way to visit the park - it is paved, mostly flat, and you can visit the farm or have a picnic before turning back to Shaffer Road. The only drawback is that the trail from Shaffer Road often passes close to Highway 1, where there can be a lot of traffic noise.

Park at Shaffer Road and begin your hike from the well-marked trailhead near the corner of Shaffer Road and Highway 1, heading North and parallel to Highway 1. The trail ends at the farm. Turn left to check out the animals and gardens, store, and exhibits at the mini-museum. Picnic tables and bathrooms are available. Turn right to pass through a tunnel beneath Hwy 1, and visit the corral or other trails. If you'd like to do the Coastside Trails (described below), then pass the farm and head along the paved service road North and uphill, to the main parking area (directions begin there, below). Turn back towards Shaffer Road when you're ready. Total distance (with the farm as a halfway point) is 2.7 miles.

Old Cove Landing Trail from Main Parking Lot
This is the windiest area of the park, so plan accordingly! Walk to the Main Parking Area's SW corner, and follow signs to the Coastside Trails (you will walk SW). The Old Cove Landing Trail begins paved, then becomes a wide fine gravel path with very occasional small ruts or puddles. A Viewing Station is set up early on, with a placard and bench on a platform. Enjoy sights of steep cliffs and small sandy beaches, seals and sea birds, and plenty of gorgeous grass, mustard, and wildflowers. The path eventually turns inland along a road with some grassy growth between lateral ruts the perfect distance apart for truck tires - this is the only area that is really any work to navigate, even for a baby jogger. This farm road dips down and crosses railroad tracks, then heads uphill to the park entrance and parking area. If you prefer not to cut inland along the farm road, you can return the way you came. Total distance is about 2 miles.

Old Cove Landing Trail and Ohlone Bluff Trail from Main Parking Lot
This is the windiest area of the park, so plan accordingly! Walk to the Main Parking Area's SW corner, and follow signs to the Coastside Trails (you will walk SW). The Old Cove Landing Trail begins paved, then becomes a wide fine gravel path with very occasional small ruts or puddles. A Viewing Station is set up early on, with a placard and bench on a platform. Enjoy sights of steep cliffs and small sandy beaches, seals and sea birds, and plenty of gorgeous grass, mustard, and wildflowers. Where the path turns inland (Sand Plant Beach), you can connect to Ohlone Bluff Trail, either by crossing the beach or continuing inland and looking for the path that cuts North. You'll pass three more beaches before the path ends at a tunnel beneath Hwy 1 (that accesses the numerous trails in the East side of the park). Return back the way you came or cut inland along the farm road described above to end the Old Cove Landing Trail's Loop. Total distance is 7 miles.

Engelsman Loop Trail from Wilder Ranch Interpretive Center
From the Wilder Ranch Interpretive Center, pass through the tunnel to the East side of the park. The wide road narrows a bit to a fire road, and there are very rare ruts to beware of. The trail quickly divides into 6 trails, so keep an eye out for signs and continue straight ahead to take one of the "top" two trails (one goes out, the other back, in this loop). You will climb some rolling hills going out, then descend them, coming back. Total distance is about 3.25 miles.

Other Trails on the East side of Hwy 1 are aplenty at Wilder Ranch, and many are wide and well graded, suitable for family bike rides and hikes. To access them, pass through the tunnel next to the Ranch / Interpretive Center or the tunnel at the North end of Ohlone Bluff Trail. Please contact me if you know specific routes that are stroller friendly. Strollerhikes.com will visit the area more soon!